Jeffrey Tambor Says He Won't Return to 'Transparent' Due to 'Politicized Atmosphere'

Jeffrey Tambor plays Maura, a transgender woman, on the Amazon series Transparent.

"This is no longer the job I signed up for," Jeffrey Tambor says. The Emmy-winning "Transparent" star has been accused of harassment by two women -- his former assistant and an actress on the Amazon show -- and he sounds pretty bitter about it.

After the second woman came forward, there was talk of writing Tambor off the show, in which he has the lead role of Maura Pfefferman. Perhaps that talk is what led to Tambor to come forward with his own statement to Deadline, basically saying they can't fire him if he quits first in protest:

"Playing Maura Pfefferman on Transparent has been one of the greatest privileges and creative experiences of my life. What has become clear over the past weeks, however, is that this is no longer the job I signed up for four years ago. I've already made clear my deep regret if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone as being aggressive, but the idea that I would deliberately harass anyone is simply and utterly untrue. Given the politicized atmosphere that seems to have afflicted our set, I don't see how I can return to Transparent."

He does sound more upset for himself than anyone else. Maybe he feels betrayed, since others on the show have not had his back, at least publicly. Tambor previously said, via Deadline, that he was "deeply sorry if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone as being sexually aggressive." He also added, in general of his behavior:

"I know I haven't always been the easiest person to work with. I can be volatile and ill-tempered, and too often I express my opinions harshly and without tact. But I have never been a predator – ever."

Being ill-tempered and speaking harshly doesn't exactly create a great working environment either, but it is very different to be labeled some kind of predator. He seems to feel like these accusations are labeling him a Weinstein-esque predator.

Now what? The show was already in an awkward position. Now Tambor has essentially quit. So they either cancel the show after Season 4, which premiered in September, or go ahead with Season 5 without Maura.